County FMR · HUD FY2026
Nome Census Area Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Nome Census Area, AK - 39% above the US average.
- $1,334
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,533
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.3%
- YoY change
- +39%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Nome is the 12th most expensive of 30 counties in Alaska by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #12
- most expensive of 30 in Alaska (2BR)
- +12%
- vs the state average
- $53,360
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +5.3%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.3%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (52.4%); nearby Alaska counties range as much as 72% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Nome Census Area, AK. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Nome Census Area, Alaska at $1,334 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,533/mo and a studio is $1,227/mo. This is 39% higher than the national average of $959 and 12% above the Alaska average of $1,194.
Rent increased5.3% from FY 2025 ($1,267), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $53,360/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alaska. Population: 10,018. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.0%, Census ACS). That's in line with Alaska's statewide growth of -0.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Nome Census Area
The Nome Census Area FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Alaska's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Nome Census Area's 1-bedroom rent runs 39% above the US average of $959 and 12% higher than the Alaska state average of $1,194. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,267 in FY 2025 to $1,334 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.3%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,334, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $53,360 per year (about $4,447/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,533 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 10,018 and a county median household income of $76,643, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,197 | $1,227 | +$30 (+2.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,267 | $1,334 | +$67 (+5.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,477 | $1,533 | +$56 (+3.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,070 | $2,132 | +$62 (+3.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,335 | $2,525 | +$190 (+8.1%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Nome Census Area. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Nome Census Area 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Nome sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,533 Top 14% higher than 86% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Nome compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Alaska counties
- Bethel
Bethel Census Area
$1,719 1BR FMR / mo
- Juneau City and
Juneau City and Borough
$1,340 1BR FMR / mo
- Nome
Nome Census Area
$1,334 1BR FMR / mo
- Fairbanks North Star
Fairbanks North Star Borough
$1,277 1BR FMR / mo
- Anchorage Municipality
Anchorage Municipality
$1,243 1BR FMR / mo
- Matanuska-Susitna
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
$1,049 1BR FMR / mo
- Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula Borough
$1,000 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Nome is highlighted. Nearby Alaska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Bethel Census Area ($1,719), Juneau City and Borough ($1,340), Nome Census Area (this county) ($1,334), Fairbanks North Star Borough ($1,277), Anchorage Municipality ($1,243), Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,049), Kenai Peninsula Borough ($1,000).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,334/mo compares to Alaska salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | AK Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $120,470 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $119,600 | 13.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $110,690 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $100,300 | 16% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,950 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,860 | 19.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $76,290 | 21% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,890 | 24.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,120 | 26.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $50,440 | 31.7% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,760 | 35.8% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $39,040 | 41% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,940 | 43.3% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,430 | 46.5% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,560 | 52.4% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Nome Census Area. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Nome (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has fallen 4.6% overall, from $1,398 to $1,334. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 9.9% drop in FY 2021 - an unusual multi-year softening rather than the steady increases seen in most US counties.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.3% | $1,227 | $1,334 | $1,533 |
| FY 2025 ↑0.7% | $1,197 | $1,267 | $1,477 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.2% | $1,250 | $1,258 | $1,497 |
| FY 2023 ↓2.8% | $1,156 | $1,163 | $1,467 |
| FY 2022 ↓4.9% | $1,190 | $1,197 | $1,501 |
| FY 2021 ↓9.9% | $1,193 | $1,259 | $1,534 |
| FY 2020 | $1,281 | $1,398 | $1,685 |
Where Nome Census Area Ranks in Alaska
Nome Census Area is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #19 of 30 counties in Alaska. Nearest by rank: Aleutians East Borough ($1,385), Yakutat City and Borough ($1,388), Hoonah-Angoon Census Area ($1,460), Petersburg Borough ($1,463), Chugach Census Area ($1,506), Nome Census Area (this county) ($1,533), Sitka City and Borough ($1,566), Ketchikan Gateway Borough ($1,625), North Slope Borough ($1,625), Anchorage Municipality ($1,631), Skagway Municipality ($1,644).
Nearby Counties in Alaska
Largest counties by population in Alaska
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Nome Census Area? ▼
How does Nome Census Area rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Nome Census Area? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Nome Census Area? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Nome Census Area? ▼
How much has rent changed in Nome Census Area over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Nome Census Area? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Nome Census Area? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Nome's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,334 implies about $53,360/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Nome can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.